9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0082
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
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82 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) Last Lancer into Vienna john Holdmonh am one of the dwindling band of 27th Lancers who are members of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers Association. I was called up in November 1942 at the age of 18 and joined D Squadron 27L at Cambridge from 59th Training regiment RAC at Barnard Castle and became Troop Leader’s Operator for 6th Troop shortly before the Regiment embarked from Liverpool on 15th January 1944. We arrived at Port Said on 30th January after sailing through the Mediterranean and were stationed south of Ismalia by the Bitter Lakes. We were issued with new Detroit built Staghounds with 37mm guns and Browning Machine Guns. We also were issued with Humber Scout Cars. Our deployment to Tobruk in Libya, and later near the Turkish Border in Syria, was part of an elaborate deception plan to convince the Germans that we were part of an invading force from Tobruk to the Balkan Mainland. Our presence no doubt contributed to the Campaign in Northwest Europe by tying down badly needed (German) troops in South Eastern Europe at this crucial time. Then it was back to Egypt, a Troopship to Taranto in Italy where we arrived on 17th July 1944. There we learned of our likely role as dismounted flank protection and underwent a short period of Infantry training at Massa Trota before moving up to the Front. Still mounted on our Armoured Cars we passed through the pile of rubble that was Cassino with the Monastery overlooking it from above. (I have visited Cassino and its monastery in the eighties, the only evidence of this almost total destruction are some shell pocked ruins on the hill side and a number of British, Polish and German Cemeteries in the town.) The following day we came under command of the Eighth Army at Umbertide. Squadrons were strung out along the front and operated indi- vidually. D Squadron patrolled the hillsides in the area of Pietralunga during the daytime. One of our Troops was ambushed and we incurred our first casualty. He was buried with full honours in the village cemetery. We left Pietralunga on the 25th August for a short rest in Citta di Castello in the Tiber Valley, where we met up with our Sister Regiment the 12th Royal Lancers. Soon the squadron moved out to Sant Angelo in Vado on the Metauro River. This was the base for patrols of the hills between the Metauro and Foglia Rivers. We worked from the road to San Marino and Rimini and provided protection for RHA Ops who were able to observe the German positions in the Foglia Valley below. They used my 38 set to direct the fire of their 25 Pounders, which were mounted on tank chassis (known as Priests). The weather was fine from 3rd to 14th September for the assault on the Gothic Line and its sequel by V Corps. We made good progress despite heavy losses both of tanks and Infantry. The heavy bombardments before the attacks could be heard each night. The long-term purpose of this campaign was to reach Vienna before the Russians did. D Squadron with the rest of the Regiment was withdrawn to Pesaro area amongst vineyards to await the breakthrough. The cars were prepared and we were issued with maps to take us to the P0. The heavy autumn rains and some very stubborn defence bought time for the Germans. By the time the Eighth Army reached the great river the valley was a sea of mud. The flood-banks of these rivers made excellent defensive posi- tions for the Germans who retreated slowly towards Bologna. D Squadron reverted back to the Infantry role and took over Greek positions on the Rubicon on 16th October. We main- tained close contact with the enemy drawing the inevitable mortar and sniper fire. Forli and Faenza fell to the Eighth Army and the 27th Lancers together with the Canadian Princess Louise Dragoon Guards took Ravenna on 5th December. Winter was just beginning and we had to start fighting ‘closed down’. The Regiment manned the Senio from January to March. Lt Hartigan of 6 Troop won the MC for leading an attack on an enemy position. He was informed by the Commanding Officer of the award in a letter which came up with the rations while we were at Granaroli. The Regiment moved to Lake Trasimeno in Umbria for amphibious training on ‘Fantails’ so that we could carry the infantry across Lake Comacchio in the forthcoming spring offensive. At Tavernelle my friend George and I walked in the adjoining hills near Panicale in the spring sunshine where we befriended an Italian family. We spent a number of evenings by their fireside. Before I left for a week’s leave for Rome we were invited to a five course dinner of soup, chicken, pasta, fruit and cheese washed down with plenty of red wine. We were very grateful for this spontaneous hospitality in an area we had liberated a mere seven months earlier, where desperate food shortages still prevailed. The weather in Rome was spring-like and I saw much of his- torical Rome. I made two visits to the Opera House where I saw ‘Tosca’ and ‘Il Travotore’. The rather expensive seats were paid for with ‘black-market cigarettes’. Our leave party re- joined the Squadron near Faenza. We were back in the Armoured Car role for the next offensive, which turned out to be the last in this war. We were assigned to the Polish ‘Rudforce’. We met up on the football pitch of Faenza where we pitched our tents, as the weather was fine. The Germans continued to shell Faenza from their positions. Unfortunately the squadron was not aware of the danger and shells landed in the middle of the pitch. Five soldiers were killed including recently promoted Sergeant Brittain and 15 soldiers were wounded. The water wagon resembled a watering can. Lt Hartigan and I loaded Sgt Brittain into the White Scout Car which took the dead away. Death must have been instanta- neous judging by the large wound in his back. The offensive started on 9th April. Our first task was to trans- port Polish infantry across the Senio on a bridge called the ‘Ark’ which was a tank stripped down to its chassis with a bridge on top. I saw no bridge but our wheels stayed on the track guides and we were soon across with our precious cargo happily play- ing cards on the engine covers. We were greeted by a landscape of dead animals, burning hayricks and damaged buildings. Tank flame-throwers had been used to good effect. We crossed the Santerno and Sillaro rivers by the 15th again carrying infantry forward and ready to use our weapons in support. Under command of the 5th Kresowa Division we supported the crossing of the Gaiana Canal and later with Lt Tim Washington with ‘Dictum’ and crew we set out to establish a link with the formation to our right. Here we ran straight into the middle of a major attack by advancing infantry and a burn- ing Sherman by the New Zealand Division. We stopped at a roadside Taverna and parked the Staghound at the rear entrance where bread and wine duly appeared. Suddenly a crack of a mortar made us dive into our turrets. The enemy had spotted us. On examination later, I saw that the turret lid was covered with tiny molten metal marks, which meant that the shells had landed very close. |
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